Kumaraswamy wants floor test, SC asks Speaker to not act on resignations | All that happened

The political crisis in Karnataka continues to dominate headlines even after a week since the 13 MLAs resigned. Here’s all that happened on Friday

(L-R) Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy, Speaker KR Ramesh and BS Yeddyurappa.

The political crisis in Karnataka refuses to die down even after a week. Exactly seven days after the whole turmoil started with 13 MLAs of the JDS-Congress coalition resigning, Karnataka remains on the boil.

On Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy sounded confident and called for a floor test to prove the government’s majority even though a total of 16 MLAs of the coalition have resigned.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court restrained Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar from taking any decision on the resignation and disqualification of 10 rebel MLAs.

Here are the top 10 developments from Karnataka today:

1. The Supreme Court on Friday asked Speaker Ramesh to not take any decision on the disqualification or resignation of the 10 MLAs whose resignations were found not in the right order.

2. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose said the matter will be considered by it on July 16 and status quo as of Friday should be maintained.

3. As his government teetered on the brink, Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that he would seek a trust vote and sought time from the Speaker.

5. Speaker Ramesh on Friday said a slot would be allotted whenever Kumaraswamy opted for it.

6. Four of the fourteen rebel MLAs from Karnataka who are camping in Mumbai, on Friday visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple and offered prayers to Lord Ganesh.

7. On Friday all three parties moved their MLAs to different resorts. As Kumaraswamy called for a floor tests, BJP also moved its MLAs to the Ramada resort.

8. The JDS has chosen the serene surroundings of Nandi Hill on the city outskirts while its partner Congress opted for the Taj Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru to horde its MLAs.

9. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said, “BJP uses money to bring down state governments. They have been doing that. We saw that in the North east as well.”

10. The coalition government, which has been shaky since it came into being last year after a post-poll arrangement in the wake of a hung verdict, is facing a serious crisis now with 16 MLAs – 13 of the Congress and three of the JD(S) – resigning their assembly membership.